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Deleting Cookies in Internet Explorer: A Definitive Guide

So, you’re looking to purge those digital crumbs known as cookies from your Internet Explorer browser. Excellent choice! Whether you’re concerned about privacy, performance, or simply tidying up, deleting cookies is a fundamental skill for any internet user. Here’s how to do it, step by step, in Internet Explorer:

Open Internet Explorer: Make sure the browser is open.
Access the Tools Menu: Click on the “Tools” button. It looks like a gear icon located at the top-right corner of the browser window. If you can’t see a gear icon, press the “Alt” key to temporarily reveal the classic menu bar and select “Tools.”
Open Internet Options: In the Tools menu, select “Internet Options.” This will open a new window containing various browser settings.
Locate Browsing History: In the “Internet Options” window, click on the “General” tab. Look for the section labeled “Browsing history.”
Delete Browsing History: Under the “Browsing history” section, click on the “Delete…” button. This will open the “Delete Browsing History” window.
Select Cookies and Website Data: In the “Delete Browsing History” window, make sure that the box next to “Cookies and website data” is checked. This is crucial! Unchecking other boxes will leave those items intact.
Delete: Click the “Delete” button at the bottom of the window. Internet Explorer will then begin deleting the selected data.
Wait for Completion: The time it takes to delete the cookies depends on how many you have stored. Be patient and wait for the process to finish. The progress indicator will disappear once complete.
Close Windows: Close the “Delete Browsing History” window and the “Internet Options” window.

That’s it! You’ve successfully deleted cookies from Internet Explorer. Now, let’s dive into some frequently asked questions to further clarify the process and address related concerns.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 12 frequently asked questions to provide additional valuable information for our readers:

1. What exactly are cookies, and why should I delete them?

Cookies are small text files that websites store on your computer. They are used to remember information about you, such as your login details, preferences, and browsing history. While cookies can enhance your browsing experience by personalizing content and streamlining logins, they can also be used for tracking your online activity, which raises privacy concerns. Deleting cookies regularly helps to protect your privacy, remove outdated information, and potentially improve browser performance by reducing the amount of data stored.

2. Will deleting cookies log me out of all websites?

Yes, generally speaking, deleting cookies will log you out of most websites. This is because cookies often store your authentication tokens or session IDs, which are used to keep you logged in. You’ll need to re-enter your usernames and passwords to log back into your favorite sites. Consider using a password manager to make this process easier.

3. What’s the difference between “cookies” and “website data” in the deletion options?

While the terms are often used interchangeably, “Cookies” specifically refer to the small text files stored by websites. “Website data” is a broader term that can include other types of information, such as cached files, saved passwords, and form data. In most cases, deleting both “Cookies and website data” is the recommended approach to ensure a thorough cleaning of your browsing history related to website tracking.

4. Can I delete cookies automatically in Internet Explorer?

Yes, you can configure Internet Explorer to delete cookies automatically when you close the browser:

Open Internet Options (as described above).
On the “General” tab, under “Browsing history,” check the box labeled “Delete browsing history on exit.”
Click “Apply” and then “OK.”

Now, every time you close Internet Explorer, your browsing history, including cookies, will be deleted.

5. Are there different types of cookies, and does it matter which ones I delete?

Yes, there are different types of cookies, primarily first-party cookies and third-party cookies.

First-party cookies are set by the website you are currently visiting. They are generally considered less intrusive and are often necessary for the website to function correctly.
Third-party cookies are set by a different domain than the one you are visiting, often by advertising networks or tracking services. These cookies are more commonly associated with privacy concerns as they can track your browsing activity across multiple websites.

While Internet Explorer doesn’t give you the option to selectively delete only third-party cookies within the main deletion tool, you can manage cookie settings to block or restrict third-party cookies.

6. How do I block all cookies in Internet Explorer?

While blocking all cookies isn’t generally recommended (as it can break many websites), here’s how to do it:

Open Internet Options.
Click on the “Privacy” tab.
Under “Settings,” move the slider to the “Block All Cookies” position.
Click “Apply” and then “OK.”

Be aware that blocking all cookies will significantly impact your browsing experience.

7. Can deleting cookies improve my browser’s performance?

Yes, in some cases, deleting cookies can improve browser performance. Over time, the accumulation of many cookies can slow down your browser, especially if some of the cookies are corrupted or outdated. Regularly deleting cookies helps to maintain a cleaner and more efficient browsing environment. However, the performance improvement might not be dramatic.

8. Will deleting cookies affect my saved passwords?

Deleting cookies alone should not affect your saved passwords if they are managed by Internet Explorer’s password manager. However, if you’ve checked the box for “Passwords” when deleting browsing history, then your saved passwords will be removed. Be careful with that option!

9. Where are cookies stored on my computer?

Cookies in Internet Explorer are stored in specific folders within your user profile. The exact location can vary depending on your Windows version, but a general path is:

C:Users[Your Username]AppDataRoamingMicrosoftWindowsCookies

This folder might contain subfolders for different websites.

10. How often should I delete cookies?

The frequency of deleting cookies depends on your privacy concerns and browsing habits. If you are very concerned about privacy, you might want to delete cookies daily or even after each browsing session. For most users, deleting cookies once a week or once a month is a reasonable compromise between privacy and convenience.

11. Can websites still track me even if I delete cookies?

Unfortunately, yes. While deleting cookies is a good first step, websites can use other tracking techniques such as browser fingerprinting, local storage, and eTags to identify and track you even after you delete cookies. Using a privacy-focused browser, a VPN, and browser extensions designed to block tracking can provide additional layers of protection.

12. I am using Edge in IE Mode, will this process work for those cookies?

Yes, if you are using Microsoft Edge in IE Mode (Internet Explorer mode), the process for deleting cookies should be similar to the steps outlined above for Internet Explorer. The browser is essentially emulating the older IE engine for specific websites, so the cookie management is handled in a comparable way. Ensure you are deleting cookies from the Internet Explorer settings and not the standard Edge settings if you want to affect IE Mode browsing data.